Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-04-28
Mining in southern wisconsin.


lowing concerning the mining interests
of Southern Wisconsin: Tho northern
part of the state is not the only section
in which mining booms are rife. The
southern part is also attracting consider
able attention, and three or four locali-
ties on the line between Milwaukee and
Prairie du Chen have become centers
of busy speculation. AT Mazomanie
several of the citizens are convinced
that the bluffs are filled with iron, and
are determined to enrich themselves
getting it out. The Mazomanie Sickle
of April 20, contains the following:
Work in sinking shaft on August
Wolfferman's farm still continues. put
a hard, impeuetrable stratum of stone
has been reached which has greatly i'm
peded the downward course the past
few days. They have attempted to
blast the stubborn article, but have
been unsuccessful so far. The iron
syndicate are now considering the FEAST
bllity of drilling in place of sinking a
shaft.
At Black Earth the mining fever is
also breaking out, and the citizens of
that village are going to know what is
hidden beneath the imposing bluffs
around their homes. The Black Earth
Advertiser of the 22d inst, speaks of
what has already developed in the way
OF iron mines, as follows:
Who knows but that the town of
Black Earth together with its neighbors
may arise some fine morning to find
veritable boom at hand. Signs of iron
ore crop out from half dozen or more
hill-sides within our township. The
town of Vermont is similarly situated.
Cross Plains can show iron and lead.
To what extent the ore may exist is still
unknown, but that it does exist and of
good quality of hematite there is no
doubt. Mr.. Aug. Wolfferman, west of
the village, has leased eighty acres of
land to Mazomanie parties for prospect
ing purposes, and explorations are being
fhade on Mr.. John McKenzie's land
eastlof the village. Another week will
probably determine the fact of paying
ore or not. In the meantime, gentle
men. keep your coats on. and sell your
old farms if you get a fair offer.
In Crawford county, about seven
miles from Boscobel, Milwaukee syn
dictate is working, and farmers around
Boydtown who did not value their farms
&c ca ooroe n ,xortL ,,,oro than 90 O00
or $4,000 each two years ago, are now
asking three times that amount for their
land. The boom in that section, how
ever, is not based upon the system of
getting out the material to feed a system
of rolling mills; but the more valuable
metal that finds its way 10 the assay pot
jewelers. table and government mints
is believed to lie in beds of quartz that
have been uncovered. 1t is claimed by
the boomers there that several tons
have been tested, and that each
mass of a toms weight has yielded sill
yer in amounts ranging from Sl3 to $40
each. A mining syndicate is preparing
articles of association, with 100000
capital stock. Copper is also being
sought by the miners in that section,
and several encouraging specimens
have been found.
The village of Waterloo also claims
the attention of miners. Under the be-
lief that something of value lies in The
earth around that village. The Water
loo Democrat of April says:
For several weeks there have been
rumors afloat to the effect that certain
places in the town of Waterloo gave
evidence of producing iron. On We'd
nesday two of our citizens went over
for the purpose of investigating, and
upon the farm of F..Schech, about five
and half miles from town, they Sc
cured number of specimens that
proved beyond doubt that the soil in the
vicinity abounded with mineral. On
Thursday about fifteen visited the To-
reality, each returning with specim ems
of surface mineral. La order to ascer-
tain what is below the surface, it will
require considerable labor and expense.
There is number of our citizens who
have faith in the project, and are will
ing to stand a portion of the expense
incurred in sinking a shaft for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether there
is mineral there IN paying guam
titles. Ii this is done. and the
prospect turns out to be a profitable
one, ali interested will never regret the
move.
The southern part of Wisconsin pos
sesses the essential accompaniment of
iron ore, limestone, in vast quantities.
In Grant, Crawford, Iowa and Richland
counties inexhaustible quantities of blue
limestone can be obtained. and the day
is not far distant when this supply of
crude material will become the source of
extended industry and wealth, if not as
a purifier of ores. then as limestone
purely.
The greatness of the Badger state can
not be half estimated at present, and
there is no state with more varied and
reliable resources of wealth. 1t is hoped
that the booms that are going on around
us will prove permanent.
For the past twenty-thrce years an
army shell has been standing on Bolivar
Heights, near Harper's Ferry, Md.
Tuesday afternoon some young men
possessed of more curios;tv than die